Safety Bill
It has been a while coming, but recently an OHV safety bill has been introduced in the state legislature by Assemblymember Lori Wilson. Should this bill pass (and we hope it does) online safety training will be required for all off-road vehicle users on public land in California. Not requiring safety training will include competitors in actual competitions, over-snow users and people on private property. The bill talks about required training, who will help make the program, when it will be implemented, how much it will cost and what happens if you are caught without training. While we don’t prefer the government getting in our business, the situation in off-road vehicle areas requires that something be done. We believe this is a big step in the right direction and should not be much of a burden to us off-roaders. As it is currently written, training will be required beginning January 1 of 2029.

Carnegie SVRA Soil Conservation Plan
This is the fifth soil plan we have looked at in the last year and will focus on how the park manages soil. Comments are now being solicited on the draft plan. The following is from the draft plan and shows why we need to comment. “To meet the criteria of sustainable long-term use, soil loss must not exceed restorability (i.e., the ability to be restored). PRC 5090.02 (c)(4) requires that when OHV recreation areas or trails or portions thereof cannot be maintained to appropriate established standards for sustained long-term use, they shall be closed to use and be repaired to prevent accelerated erosion. Those areas shall remain closed until they can be managed within the soil loss standard or shall be closed and restored. Restoration of these areas means that upon closure of the unit or any portion thereof, the return of land to the contours, the plant communities, and the plant covers comparable to those on surrounding lands or at least those which existed prior to OHV use.” SDORC is preparing comments now.

Solar Power by Prairie City SVRA
A solar energy project that would go right up to the property line of Prairie City SVRA has been withdrawn. They cite supply chain constraints, rising tariffs, and—notably—the three separate lawsuits filed by OHV organizations, conservation groups, and a federally recognized Indian Tribe as reasons they are not moving forward. SDORC has no connection with any lawsuits in this area. I toured the park last fall and I am not really sure opposing the project is the best action for the OHV community. Currently, the park is surrounded by private property. The owner of the property would like to get some revenue from their investment. While traveling to the park, I made a wrong turn and went by brand new home construction as well as recently constructed homes. The land around the park now is beautiful grassland with occasional oak trees. If I were given a choice between solar and homes, I would take solar for sure. Solar projects don’t make it their mission to stop OHV fun, while over at Oceano Dunes, new neighbors are loudly complaining about OHV use nearby. We will keep an eye on the area.

Oceano Dunes
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is now considering an Incidental Take Permit and Habitat Conservation Plan for operations at Pismo State Beach and Oceano Dunes SVRA. This type of permit decides what activities can take place in an area where endangered species exist. The four species in question are California least tern, tidewater goby, western snowy plover, and California red-legged frog. Public comments are now being accepted on proposed alternatives. From the BlueRibbon Coalition, “support for Alternative 2 must be paired with clear administrative safeguards. Adaptive management must be mandatory, not discretionary. Access restoration must be an explicit outcome when standards are met. Emergency and seasonal closures must be limited, justified, and reviewed. Take determinations must be based on documented cases of species mortality or harm or measurable biological effects and not assumptions or speculation. Species listed as threatened should require more flexible recovery frameworks and fewer restrictions than species listed as endangered. Without these commitments, even a well-intentioned permit could be misused to justify long-term or permanent closures.”

Events
San Diego 4 Wheelers recently held a fun and successful Superstition Run. I personally missed it because I love going to the San Diego Supercross.

The Rubicon Trail Foundation is hosting their Black Tie and Boots event in Sacramento on March 14 at the Marriott Rancho Cordova Sacramento. It never hurts to help organizations like this. Click here for details.

Our good friends at Tierra Del Sol are hosting their 63rd Desert Safari March 19-21. This will be a driving event with base camp just outside the 4X4 Training area in north Ocotillo Wells. There will also be a raffle, off-road and food vendors. Side by sides will be welcome.

Ed Stovin, President
San Diego Off-Road Coalition